CRBM includes 17 research groups, technological platforms and common services and houses about 160 people (researchers, university professors, engineers, technicians and administrative staff, PhD students and post-doctoral fellows).

CRBM is internationally recognized particularly for its research on the cell cycle field and the discovery of the molecular mechanisms that control cell division by the work started by Marcel Dorée and his research group. This research axis is still very active at CRBM, and the current “cell cycle” research projects are focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate mitosis, in normal conditions or during tumour development and progression. This research axis has been strengthened by the important recruitment of new research groups in the last years. These groups are interested in unravelling the molecular mechanisms that control cell migration and adhesion by integrating also the cytoskeleton dynamics. Indeed, deregulation of the cytoskeleton organization contributes to metastasis formation. The specificity of the “cell cycle” research axis is the study of these cell processes by using cutting-edge imaging technology in living cells, thanks to the excellent imaging facility MRI that is housed in the institute.

The other research axes concern “gene regulation” in different integrated models by using a systems biology approach, and “structural bioinformatics” that allows understanding the principles that guide protein structures and protein-protein interactions.

At the interface of these research axes, the CRBM groups have also developed a major expertise in the field of “post-translational modifications” by using innovative proteomic approaches. This research axis is thriving due to the recently discovered novel functions of post-translational modifications in the activity of cell signalling networks.

This internationally renowned research is performed by using many relevant biological models, such as yeast, marine invertebrates, frogs (Xenopus laevis), zebrafish (Danio Renio) and transgenic mouse models. It relies on excellent technological facilities, grouped in the UMS BioCampus (http://www.biocampus.cnrs.fr), and particularly on the excellent and innovative imaging facility MRI (http://www.mri.cnrs.fr).

CRBM is also very involved in training by housing several professors of Montpellier University and by welcoming many students from the entire world who are attracted by the quality of research and training at CRBM.